Combination match-box.



'E. ZANONI. I COMBINATION MATCH BOX.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 7- i916.

1,237,140.- Patented u 14, 1917.

a I llltlllillllm i special care, 15

'I'natches from the box while being carried in ERNEST 'ZAnonr, or SILVERTON, comma-Do:

Specification of Letter; na iiat nt d iig. 14;; 1917'.

Aspiration met June 7, 1516. serial No. new

To all whom it mag concern:

Be it known that I, ERNEST ZANONI, a

citizen of the'United States, residing at Silvertomin the county of San Juan and State of Colorado, have invented a new and useful Combination Match-Box, of which the fol lowing is a specification; I a I This invention relates to combination ma-tch box.

The object is to provide axbox for pocket use adapted to carry a quantity of ordinary matches, which may be extracted from the box, one at a time, without exercising any means being provided to pre- Vent the accidental dislodgment of the pOCkGll;

Another object is to provide a box of this character having compactly arranged in combination therewith, various other devices, which are constantly useful, and which do not add materially to the weight or bulki ness of the device. ,These additional devices consist, in the present instance, in a folding rule, a pipe cleaner, a match scratcher, a finger nail clipper and nail file.

A full and complete understanding of the invention may be obtained from a consideration' of the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification; it being understood. that while the drawing shows a practical form of the invention, the latter is not confined to strict conformity therewith, but may be changed or modified, so long as suchchanges or modi- "ficat'ions mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention, as specifically pointed out in the claims appended hereto:

In the drawing, in which like reference characters designate similar parts throughout the several figures Figure 1 is" a perspective'view of the combinati'onmatch-box, illustrating the manner of extracting a match therefrom.

Fig; 2is" a side elevation thereof, showing the folded rule release.

Fig. 3 isahorizontal sectional View.

Fig. 4' is a top plan view.

Y Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view. I

Fig. 6'is a view illustrating the rule extended for use in measuring, and

Fig. 7 is' a view taken at right anglesto ,Fig; '6, showing the finger nail clip in position for use;

.The invention comprises match reattacle 1 of rectangular formation consisting (if-relatively wide sides 2; back 3, bottom 4 and a restricted or contracted front, wall 5,- which is formed by a narrow extension 6,

capable of loosely containing a single match at its extreme edge though not of sufiicient 'width to permit of crowding or jamming of a plurality of matches therein.

The open upper end 7 of the receptacle is provided with a downwardly extending cut away portion 8 along the upper of the extension 6 toprovide an" opening" or mount for ex osin the heads of the matches to be extracted; and toienab'le the same to be readily grasped by the-thumb and finger of the operator ior extracting the same from the box, as illustrated in Fig. I of thedra'wi-ng A lid or closure 9 is hinged to the upper edge of the back wall 3', and is provided each side'adapted to lie on;- the outer faces of the side wal1s2'and having a downwardly inclined tongue 11 adaptedto lie over the cut away portion 8' and to e'ng'age the headsor the matches to hold them in place;

A- pring 1 2;- or rdm ary construction, mounted on the ei-ntle 13' of the hinge is capable of alwaysreturning thelid 9" to a closed position after a match has been ex:

One of the side walls 2' of the box is with a downwardly extending flange 10 on extended slightly beyond the back. wan 3, c I

shown at 14 to provide shallow recess or pockefiint'o which'i's' adapted to be sea-ted, when folded, a measuring ul e 15 preferably, though not necessarily, consisting of three two inch sections-hingcdly set'zured together by rivets 16 and 17 and-having one termina-I' thereof secu ed to the back Of the box,- as at} 18, within the recess formed by the side extension 14 and at a pointadjacent the hinge 12'. a V a .A' keeper 1 9' is provided atthe latter point, consisting of a metallic strap's'ecured to the t'ernii'nahporti on of the extendin edge re or the stat weir, an is aaaetea to I.

house beneath the same the adjacent ends of the several sections of the rule when the same are folded together and pressed down beneath the said keeper 19, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing.

As shown in Fig. 7, the rivet 16, connecting what may be termed the first and second sections of the rule, is somewhat extended away from the said sections, and provided with a head, while the third or free end section of the rule is arcuately slotted, as shown at 20, for the purpose of receiving the headed pivot 16, when the sections are folded in closed position, as shown in Fig. 1.

The extremity'of the third section beyond the arcuate slot 20 is outturned, as at 21, to form a convenient projection for forcibly swinging the said section of the rule on the pivot 17 to open the same, after being folded and housed beneath the keeper 19, which is open ended at the side opposite the extended edge 14 of the side 2, as indicated at 22 to permit of the adjacent ends of the folded rule sections being readily passed beneath the said keeper 19.

The normal tendency of the free end of the first section of the rule 15, adjacent the pivot 16, is to spring away from the back .3 of the box, and said section is provided,

along its terminal edge, with a transversely disposed inwardly directed cutting edge 23, adapted to coact with a similarly disposed cutting edge 24, provided along the adjacent edge of the bottom 4 of the box to form a finger nail clip, which, as may be seen, may be conveniently used without the necessity of unfolding the rule 15, as illustrated in Fig. 2.

Since the normal tendency of the rule, whether open or folded, is to lie in spaced relation to the back of the box, at the lower end thereof, the said rule must, when folded and seated in the recess provided for this purpose, be secured therein and prevented from swinging outwardly. For this purpose an elongated, flat metallic member 25 is pivoted, as at 26, to that side 2 of the box having the rearwardly extending edge 14,

at a point adjacent the cutting edge 24, and is provided with a button or projection 27 extending inwardly from the said member 25 toward the adjacent side 2 of the box, and is adapted to be sprung over the extended edge 14 of said side 2, and to engage the adjacent edge of the folded rule to retain the same in close relation to the back of the box.

the rule 15 in its closed position against the back 3 of the box, and within the recess formed by the extended portion 14 of the side 2 of the box.

The elongated member 25 is sharpened at its free end 29 and is adapted to be swung on its pivot 26 to an opposite position to that shown in Fig. 1, when the same forms a convenient pipe cleanerin addition to its function already described.

A match scratcher 80 located on that side of the box opposite to the pipe cleaner 25 is formed in the usual manner by providing a series of ridges in the metal of which the box is formed. A convenient finger nail file 31 is similarly formed upon the bottom 4 of the box adjacent oneside thereof.

The entire device may be formed of any suitable metal, and it will be seen that a useful, convenient, and compact article has been provided, adapted to be carried in the pocket and combining in convenient form several devices which come into almos daily use. 7

hat is claimed is I 1. A match-box comprising a receptacle having one of its ends open, a longitudinally disposed restricted match-receiving portion arranged along the front of the box and having its upper end cut away at the front and sides to expose the ends of the matches and provide a finger-receiving opening, a lid hinged to the open end of the box, said lid having a forwardly and downwardly extending tongue, adapted to lie, when closed, at the end of the said opening, and a spring for causing the lid to normally assume said position.

2. In combination with a match-box, a

vfoldable rule secured to the back of the box at one end thereof and extending along the back, a member pivoted on one of the sides.

of the box and having a projection adapted to engage over the edges of the folded rule to hold the latter against the back of the box when not in use.

3. In combination with a match-box havvided with a recess in its back, said recess.

having a wall at one side of the box and a keeper at one end, said keeper being open at the side opposite the said wall, a foldable rule comprising sections hinged together,

fastened to the back and fitting within the recess thereof when folded flush with the 7 single wall of said recess, said rule when in lts folded position lying within the limits of said box, and when extended being projected beyond said box, the folded sections of the rule being engaged by the said keeper.

5. In combination With a match-box provided with a recess along its back, one wall of said recess being left open, a keeper at one end of said recess having an open side coinciding with the open Wall of the recess, a foldable rule secured to the box contiguous to the keeper, said rule when folded having its folded parts engaged by the keeper, and a member pivoted to the side of the box and having a locking projection to engage the rule when folded at the end opposite the keeper.

6. The combination with a match-box, a keeper at one end of the same, a foldable rule mounted on the match-box and adapted when unfolded to extend beyond the same and when folded to be arranged within the limits of said box, the folded parts of said rule being engaged by the keeper, said rule being made up of a plurality of hinged sections, a member pivoted to the end of the box opposite the keeper, and having means for engaging the folded rule to retain the same in position, the free end of said member also engaging with the keeper.

'7. In combination with a match-box, a foldable rule secured at one end to the back of the box and having a normal tendency at its free end to spring away from the box, a transversely disposed nail-clipping edge formed on one of the sections of the rule, a transversely disposed nail-clipping edge formed on the back of the box at the end and adapted to coact with the first-mentioned edge, and means for retaining the rule when in folded position against the back of the box.

8. In combination with a match-box, a foldable rule secured to the back of the box near the open end thereof, coacting nail adapted when the member is swung into alinement with the back of the box to spring over the edge thereof and engage the rule, when the latter is folded, to retain the same in position against the back of the box, and means for engaging the end of said member when in locked position.

9. In combination with a match box, a foldable rule comprising sections hinged together, adapted to be folded one against the other, said rule being secured at one end to the back of the box and having a normal tendency at its free end to spring away from the box, means for retaining said sections folded, and means for retaining the rule When in folded position against the back of the box.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afli'xed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

ERNEST ZANONI.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G. 

